I am new to Linux, which one should I use?

Question

I heard that Linux has a lot to offer and would like to try it out. I am planning on doing a dual boot, so I can use Windows 7. I already tried Linux Mint because I read it was great for beginners. Installing it was super easy, but after that had several problems. I tried downloading the video driver for my Nividia card, but the EXE wouldn't work. I even selected the option for Linux and still didn't work. I would like to be able to download files, without using the terminial command prompt. I had read that Linux Mint has a different method of installing files that I didn't understand at all. I also was not able to connect my laptop to TV Via HDMI cable.

I would like a linux that I can surf the web with and connect my laptop to TV using HDMI cable. I would also like to be able to download files that are meant for linux, easily and hassle free.

Answer 1

I was going to suggest Linux Mint. Thats what I use in my dual boot (14). I dont have an issue with my HDMI to TV either so thats a bit odd.. After you installed you did click on the update thing to ensure all your drivers were updated yes?



Another thing I would suggest if you havnt removed it is to head over ot the Linuxmint.com forums. They are REALLY helpful there and can help you figure out your issue.



If you just want to try a different distro though I think the next easiest for a beginner would be Ubunutu.

Answer 2

I love all these Linux questions :D



tried downloading the video driver for my Nividia card, but the EXE wouldn't work. I even selected the option for Linux and still didn't work.



Okay so first of all the exe file format is used on Windows not Linux. If you want to install the nvidia drivers on Linux (I did this on Debian) you must first download the nvidia driver for linux then you want to make sure you have build-essentials installed if you don't (apt-get install build-essentials or apt-get install build-essential) (edit your grub config this can be done while booting if you are using the nouveau driver add rdblacklist=nouveau after something like kernel / then add 3 after real=/dev/ to booot into init 3) after you have done this you should do chmod +x nvidia*.run then do ./nvidia*.run this will open up the nvidia installer and you should be able to install the nvidia driver (its easy after that so I won't go into more detail then after your done installing reboot). After this your HDMI should work just fine.



I would like to be able to download files, without using the terminial command prompt



You can download files using a web browser without needing to use the command line.

You should really look into using the command prompt it is much easier to use than the command line once you get used to it they have a saying the GUI makes easy things easier and the CLI makes hard things possible and it really is true!.



I had read that Linux Mint has a different method of installing files that I didn't understand at all



Linux Mint Uses the APT package manager I understand that there are a GUI front ends available

that you can use to install packages (eg. Synatpic) using apt but in my opinion its much easier to do apt-get install then it is to click through a stupid GUI (but thats just my opinon).



I would also like to be able to download files that are meant for linux, easily and hassle free.



Usually it is easier to just install files using the apt-get package manager than it is to download files off the web then install them using dpkg (since apt-get has automatic dependency handling) but if you do want to install software by downloading packages and installing manually you can do this by downloading whatever package you want to download (APT uses .deb packages) so all you have to do is download the package you want to install then installing it using dpkg (eg. wget somewebsite.com/somepackage.deb dpkg -i somepackage.deb). Usually you can get by just using apt but sometimes you have to install programs like skype which you have to download and install manually.



I would like a linux that I can surf the web with and connect my laptop to TV using HDMI able. I would also like to be able to download files that are meant for linux, easily and hassle free.



I believe the Linux distro that best fits your description is Ubuntu (not a big fan of Ubunt since it uses so many GUIs but it sounds like GUIs might be what your looking for) as it provides an easy graphical mechanism to install drivers and other software through the Ubuntu software center. I personally recommend Debian GNU/Linux but it sounds like Debian might not be the best for you since it doesn't provide as many GUI tools Linux Mint, OpenSUSE, Ubuntu and Fedora tend to be more GUI oriented and generally distrobutions like Debian, Arch, Slackware, Gentoo and Centos tend to be more CLI oriented. I personally recommend that you learn the CLI since it will be much faster then using the GUI in the long run and in my opinion the CLI after you have been using it for awhile is much easier and quicker to use then the GUI,the main reason I don't switch entirely to the CLI is so I can use a few apps like Firefox and Spotify which require X and so I can have multiple virtual terminals open :)

Answer 3

Your question makes no sense as you are confusing Linux with being an Operating System unto itself.

Answer 4

I haven't tried to do too much with linux, but Ubuntu seems like a pretty decent choice.